We could talk about Facebook for hours. Students should be at least 13 before having a Facebook account. Facebook can be fun. It can also be a big timesink. Two common concerns are usually exposure of too much personal information, which might leave them open to unsavory characters or identity theft, and thoughtless remarks that might be considered cyberbullying. They, hopefully, will remember all the behavior standards you teach them and the Middle School lab "keep it private, keep it polite" mantra.
Here are a few links about privacy and information settings on Facebook. The second one with the table of settings might be very useful.
Facebook is making changes constantly. The advice on this page may change in the near future. Their policies change just about quarterly, and the changes are rarely privacy friendly.
We could talk about Facebook for hours. Students should be at least 13 before having a Facebook account. Facebook can be fun. It can also be a big timesink. Two common concerns are usually exposure of too much personal information, which might leave them open to unsavory characters or identity theft, and thoughtless remarks that might be considered cyberbullying. They, hopefully, will remember all the behavior standards you teach them and the Middle School lab "keep it private, keep it polite" mantra.
Here are a few links about privacy and information settings on Facebook. The second one with the table of settings might be very useful.
http://www.netfamilynews.org/?p=30113
The link above talks about how kids can use the parental settings against their parents.
http://www.connectsafely.org/Safety-Advice-Articles/facebook-privacy-chart-for-teens.html
The link provides a list of the setting in Facebook and suggested selections appropriate for teens. You and your student can select whatever setting you think best for the student.
Images of the list are below the text on this page.
Latest privacy recommendations from Facebook
Facebook is making changes constantly. The advice on this page may change in the near future. Their policies change just about quarterly, and the changes are rarely privacy friendly.
Common Sense Media provides a very helpful booklet about Facebook for parents http://www.commonsensemedia.org/facebook-parents
The checklist below is from ConnectSafely.org